IPL 2026: Samson’s century powers CSK to first dominant win

Chennai Super Kings returned to winning ways in the IPL as Sanju Samson’s brilliant century guided them to a 23-run victory over Delhi Capitals, ending a six-match home losing streak.

In a commanding display, Samson struck an unbeaten 115 to lead CSK to 212 for 2, a total that ultimately proved beyond Delhi Capitals despite a strong start to their chase.

Samson leads from the front

Sanju Samson set the tone early, scoring 45 of CSK’s 61 runs in the powerplay. His aggressive intent never wavered, bringing up a half-century in 26 balls before converting it into a 52-ball century.

The Chepauk crowd responded loudly as Samson dominated the innings, striking boundaries at will and punishing both pace and spin.

This was his fourth IPL century, placing him behind only Virat Kohli (8), Jos Buttler (7), Chris Gayle (6) and KL Rahul (5) on the all-time list.

Support from Mhatre and late acceleration

Ayush Mhatre played a crucial supporting role, scoring 59 before being retired out to allow CSK to accelerate in the closing stages.

Shivam Dube added a late cameo as CSK pushed past the 200-mark to finish on 212 for 2.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, however, struggled for fluency and managed just 15 off 18 balls before being dismissed by Axar Patel shortly after the powerplay.

DC’s explosive start undone

Delhi Capitals made a flying start in response, with Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul racing past fifty inside the fourth over of the chase.

CSK’s bowlers, however, struck back quickly. Within three overs, they removed key wickets to derail the chase and shift momentum decisively.

Nissanka was dismissed for 41 off 24 balls, while Rahul fell earlier despite his quick start.

Overton turns the game

Jamie Overton delivered the decisive spell, finishing with outstanding figures of 4 for 18. His wickets included the crucial dismissal of Tristan Stubbs, who had kept Delhi Capitals in contention with a fighting 60 off 38 balls.

Anshul Kamboj also played a key role, picking up 3 for 35, while Gurjapneet Singh made an immediate impact on debut with a wicket off his first delivery.

Despite Stubbs’ resistance, the required rate continued to climb, and Delhi Capitals were eventually bowled out for 189.

What this means

This result marks Chennai Super Kings’ first win of IPL 2026 and ends a prolonged run of home defeats. The performance highlights the importance of strong top-order contributions and disciplined bowling at key moments. For Delhi Capitals, the loss underlines how quickly momentum can shift in high-scoring games, even after a dominant start.

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